The Josias Podcast, Episode VIII: Basic Concepts – Virtue
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May 18, 2018
Dive into a lively exploration where music intertwines with virtue, revealing the ancient connection between celestial harmony and moral excellence. The conversation teases apart Aristotle's insights while veering into Plato's ideas on virtue, touching on everything from the moral dilemmas of throwing a baby to Bertrand Russell's take on character. Listen in as the hosts tackle the duality of human appetites, the struggle for true virtue amidst original sin, and the complexities of decision-making, all while seeking the elusive essence of a well-lived life.
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insights INSIGHT
Virtue as Excellence in Function
Aristotle defines virtue as the quality that enables a thing to perform its own proper activity well.
This concept extends to all things, where virtue is the excellence in performing their specific function.
insights INSIGHT
True Virtue Requires Ordered Appetites
Ordered appetites mean desires aligned with reason and the true final good, avoiding illusions of lower goods.
Pursuing lower goods as ultimate ends results in only appearing virtuous but not truly fulfilling human virtue.
insights INSIGHT
Reason Trains Appetites for Virtue
Humans have appetites that obey reason and can be trained, unlike animals whose passions arise necessarily.
Reason can guide desires so passions only arise for reasonable objects in a well-ordered soul.
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The Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle's most renowned work on ethics, focusing on the science of the good for human life. The text is divided into ten books and discusses the concept of eudaimonia, often translated as 'happiness' or 'flourishing,' which is achieved through living a virtuous life. Aristotle argues that eudaimonia is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue, emphasizing the importance of reason, moral virtues, and the pursuit of excellence. The work also explores the division of the soul, the role of rationality in human life, and the ultimate goal of human activity, which is to achieve happiness through virtuous actions and a complete life[1][2][4].
Meno
Meno
Plato
Plato's "Meno" is a philosophical dialogue exploring the nature of knowledge and virtue. The dialogue features Socrates' discussion with Meno, a young man who questions whether virtue can be taught. Socrates employs his famous method of questioning to challenge Meno's assumptions and to explore the possibility of innate knowledge. The dialogue introduces the theory of anamnesis, suggesting that learning is a process of recollecting pre-existing knowledge. "Meno" is a significant work in the history of philosophy, raising fundamental questions about epistemology and ethics. It continues to be studied and debated for its insights into the nature of knowledge and the human condition.
Summa Theologiae
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St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae is a monumental work of systematic theology, aiming to present a comprehensive overview of Christian doctrine. It's structured around questions and articles, exploring various aspects of faith and reason. The Summa covers topics such as God, creation, the human person, salvation, and the sacraments. It's considered a cornerstone of Catholic theology and has profoundly influenced philosophical and theological discourse for centuries. Its enduring relevance lies in its systematic approach and integration of faith and reason.
Phaedrus
Plato
A freewheeling discussion in which our editors have a very TAC moment discussing the connection of the music of the spheres and the virtues, and then set out to discuss Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics, but somehow talk more about Plato. Important topics are covered such as, how much virtue does it take to refrain from throwing a baby from an upper-story window? Is there any sense in which Bertrand Russell has virtue? All this, and so much more!
The editors had so much fun that the time slipped by without even getting to the supernatural virtues or the post-enlightenment revolt against virtue.
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